We're working with groups like Oregonians for Health Security, and finding that folks throughout Oregon are excited about healthcare reform and Healthcare United. Eager to let their voice be heard, healthcare workers around the state convened this spring at the governor’s appointed Health Care Forums. 13 forums were held around the state. The meetings, sponsored by Oregon Health Forum, the Northwest Health Foundation and Oregon Health Decisions, were held on behalf of the Oregon Health Fund Board.
Contact Us
For more information, contact Mara Kieval, RN, Oregon's state leader for Healthcare United, at mara@healthcareunited.org.
Calling All Nurses
by Teri Mills RN, MSN, ANP, CNE | Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Teri Mills is the president of the National Nursing Network Organization and is a strong Healthcare United supporter. You can read her own blog here.
Our nation’s healthcare system remains in critical condition and unless
significant policy changes occur, we may be spending up to 20% of our
gross domestic product (GDP) on healthcare in just a few short years.
This equates to $4.2 trillion dollars -- more than six times the $700
billion bailout package passed by Congress earlier this month (Poisel,
2007).
Nurses around the country are determined to make a difference, and are
reaching out to other nurses to make sure they too know what is at
stake with this upcoming election.
Here in Oregon, nurses gathered on what turned out to be a particularly
gorgeous Saturday morning. While the leaves were falling off the trees
and children were taking advantage of playing outside before the rain
returned, we gathered around desks and called every nurse that has been
registered to vote in Oregon's Fifth Congressional District.
We found out that each nurse we spoke with overwhelmingly wants to see
all Americans receive affordable and accessible healthcare. They were
interested in hearing about the candidate's past voting records and
indicators of what they would do to change the system. Most of them
had made a decision of whom they would vote for President, but
surprisingly few knew the voting records of the U.S. Senate candidates.
There is about three weeks left until voting begins, but in our state,
voters will begin receiving their mail-in ballots on October 17th,
which is in just a few days from now. There’s a lot more work to be
done, however. Healthcare workers are familiar with advocating for our
patients at the bedside and in the community. Now we must take our
advocacy one step further and speak up for the American public in the
political arena. Our country and our people are depending on us.
Nurses respond when called by another peer! Please visit http://www.healthcareunited.org/action/phone_calls/ and start making your own calls.
Source: Poisal, J.A., et al, Health Spending Projections Through
2016: Modest Changes Obscure Part D’s Impact. Health Affairs (21
February 2007): W242-253
Oregon Report: Which Side Are You On?
by Michael Dolan | Wednesday, October 01, 2008
We've been hearing a lot of buzz around the country about the Health Care for America Now! (HCAN) "Which Side Are You On" Pledge -- and last week in Portland I witnessed Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley sign on to those common sense guides to fix our broken healthcare system. Jeff, whose wife Mary is a nurse, is challenging incumbent Gordon Smith
for his seat in the U.S. Senate, with the hope of joining Sen. Ron
Wyden in representing Oregon caregivers and consumers in the next
Congress. Thanks to Greg from Oregonians for Health Security, who
snapped pix for posterity.
Three RNs from Healthcare United, including Chapter Coordinator Mara Kieval, RN, tracked Jeff down at his campaign headquarters, talked to him about what ails the healthcare system from their bedside points of view, told him about the HCAN! coalition and presented the pledge--which he signed.
While I was in Portland, representing the Western Region of HCU (which includes Colorado , Montana , New Mexico , Washington and Iowa), I went to a meeting of the Oregon HCAN! coalition. At the meeting, Mara took responsibility for getting Merkley on the pledge and invited the other HCAN! partners to bring everybody to the HCU-GOTV Mobilization in Salem on October 18th. (We hope to see you there!)
In the evenings, I had the pleasure of attending volunteer phonebanks in Salem and Portland, talking to other healthcare professionals about the issues and the candidates. I love doing that in every state - I always learn something new about the challenges that healthcare workers experience every day to give their patients the best possible care, and about the common sense, compassionate solutions that caregivers understand better than politicians do.
I'm very excited about the dedication of the volunteer caregivers who are part of the Oregon Chapter of HCU. I encourage all Oregon healthcare workers, who want to be part of the solution, to give Mara a call at 503-360-3252, and get involved.
Update from the Field: Oregon Caregivers and Sen. Schrader
by Jess Kutch | Tuesday, September 16, 2008
We’d like to share the latest update from Mara Kieval, RN, who's working with several dedicated RNs and healthcare professionals in Salem, Oregon:
"This morning in Salem, Oregon, we held a Mandatory Electoral Mobilization meeting. At the beginning of the meeting, Sen. Kurt Schrader, the State Senator running for the open seat in the House, stopped by to speak with us, and, more importantly listen to our concerns as healthcare professionals. Then, he signed the Healthcare for America Now! pledge. It was an important moment for our activists to witness the power of lobbying their elected officials.
Immediately following Senator Schrader's visit, we got down to business. Using the fantastic new training packets put together by Healthcare United's western regional team, we broke out a calendar and each of the 15 attendees signed up to work scheduled phone banks over the next two weeks. We offered Tuesday night, Thursday night and a Saturday morning shift for them to choose from and they all had to choose two shifts each. The comprehensive training materials, the comparison piece, the polling data on nurses, and "the most well written phone banking script I have ever seen" (said one seasoned political activist) was more than enough to mobilize the caregivers present to take responsibility for this election and what they can do to impact the outcome. By standing up for our patients and our profession, we can change healthcare in this country!"
If you're in Oregon and would like to join other caregivers in calling voters this Election season, check out the Oregon state page.
Families Speaking Up for Justice in Healthcare
by Mara Kieval, RN | Monday, August 18, 2008
On Friday, August 8th, Healthcare United, in tandem with Oregonians for Health Security, hosted a Women's and Children's Roundtable in Portland, Oregon. Special Guests included U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenhauer, State Rep. Carolyn Tomei, and State Rep. Diane Rosenbaum. Healthcare United caregivers brought their children (myself, included), and we discussed the need for justice in the healthcare system for our families.
At the forum, we heard from the U.S. Rep Blumenhauer and the state legislators.
They each focused on how important it is for people like us (e.g., women
involved in community-oriented, politically active groups) to voice our
concerns and be involved in the political debate around healthcare.A few stories stuck out in my mind. One woman spoke of a 9-year-old girl who was playing in the backyard with her younger brother, who was 5, when he stepped on a nail. The little girl pulled out the nail and there was no bleeding. She knew that if they told her parents about it, then there would be a fight between her parents over money, and so she decided not to tell them. The next day, her little brother wouldn't wake up in the morning. He was sweating and unresponsive, and so she finally told her mother what had happened and they rushed him to the ER.
Another woman spoke of having to chose to work 30 hours a week and have health insurance - and miss out on the lives of her young children - or to work 20 hours and see her kids, but have no insurance.
I
also shared my own story. After my son's surgery, which was
pre-approved by an insurance company, they denied payment. I was left
to fight with them back and forth for over 3 years before they finally
coughed up the money to pay it. If I had been ill, or not versed in
how insurance companies worked (one of the many rewards of being an
RN), I, too, may be one of the many Americans who had to file for
bankruptcy over medical bills.The event emphasized the pressures put upon families who do not have access to health care, are underinsured, or who have no means of navigating our complex system, and the serious consequences that can arise from access issues.
To get active in your own state, please head on over to our States page, where you can learn more about what your state’s Healthcare United chapter is doing to help make healthcare happen!
Update From Oregon
by Mara Kieval, RN | Thursday, July 24, 2008
Greetings from Oregon! I'm Mara Kieval, and I'm the state leader for Healthcare United!
If you're from the area, I'd like to invite you to a special family picnic that we'll be having to celebrate healthcare workers in our community. We'll be giving information about not only Healthcare United, but heart health and and political health as well.
The entire health care community and their families are invited! We'll be holding it on Saturday August 9th, from 11:00am PST - 3:00pm PST at Gabriel Park on Vermont Street in Southwest Portland. Everyone is welcome to celebrate health care workers role in our community wellness!